Thanksgiving Mashed Potato Threesome

Next to Halloween, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love coming together with family and friends over good food and even better wine. Since this recipe compliments almost any fall dish, it's perfect for all of the variety you find at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Chase it with a buttery Chardonnay and then hopefully some pumpkin pie.

Butternut Squash Mashed Potatoes

1 butternut squash

1 russet potato

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

1 pound of russet potatoes

3 tablespoons butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup whole milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Curried Mashed Potatoes

1 pound of russet potatoes

2 tablespoons butter

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons curry powder

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Peel the russet potatoes and store them in cold water. This prevents them from browning. If you happen to like that rustic look (I do!) then leaves some of the skin on.

2. Cut the potatoes into equal-sized pieces and place in a large pot with just enough water to cover the potatoes. Salt the water and bring it to a boil.

3. Simmer the potatoes for about 20 minutes or until a fork inserted into the potato meets no resistance. If the potato holds to the fork, they need to cook longer.

4. Drain them immediately when done, reserving the water for soup stalk. You can also use it as a vegan option for mashing the potatoes.

13. All the remaining potatoes, the curry mixture and the remaining ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mash the mixture.

As a side note, every time I type the word "mash" I get the song Monster Mash stuck in my head. That in turn makes me think of Michael Jackson's Thriller and well...it just all goes down hill from there. Three Michael Jackson videos later, let's get back to the recipe.

14. Using a large glass baking dish, spread the mashed potatoes out into layers. I prefer to have the butternut squash toppings on top but go ahead and pick the one you like best. You have 6 different combinations to choose from.

Get ready for Thanksgiving with this delicious trio of mashed potatoes. It includes butternut squash mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes and curried mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving will never be the same!